My Windows Installer has stopped functioning - cannot install or uninstall
programs - I get a dialogue box message: "The Windows Installer Service could
not be accessed. This can occur if you are running Windows in Safe mode, or
if the Windows Installer is not correctly installed. Contact your support
personnel for assistance".

I have Windows XP Home Edition Version 2002, Service Pack 3. It's been
operating OK for years, now this.

I've had an Office validation issue, but it's now sorted.

Also, on boot up I get a Windows Recovery message: "One of the files
containing the system's Registry data had to be recovered by use of a log or
alternate copy. The recovery was successful."

Not sure if there's a connection. Any ideas?

ChrisV99 wrote:
> My Windows Installer has stopped functioning - cannot install or uninstall
> programs - I get a dialogue box message: "The Windows Installer Servicecould
> not be accessed. This can occur if you are running Windows in Safe mode, or
> if the Windows Installer is not correctly installed. Contact your support
> personnel for assistance".
>
> I have Windows XP Home Edition Version 2002, Service Pack 3. It's been
> operating OK for years, now this.
>
> I've had an Office validation issue, but it's now sorted.
>
> Also, on boot up I get a Windows Recovery message: "One of the files
> containing the system's Registry data had to be recovered by use of a log or
> alternate copy. The recovery was successful."
>
> Not sure if there's a connection. Any ideas?

A few ideas:

- Use System Restore to go back to a restore point dated before this
issue surfaced. That could mess with your Office validation, I suppose.

- Run Chkdsk.

- Run this:

Malwarebytes© Corporation
http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam/program/mbam-setup.exe

--
Joe =o)

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your
subscription current? What anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)?
What third-party firewall (if any)?

Has a(another) Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on the
computer (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you bought
it)?

ChrisV99 wrote:
> My Windows Installer has stopped functioning - cannot install or uninstall
> programs - I get a dialogue box message: "The Windows Installer Service
> could not be accessed. This can occur if you are running Windows in Safe
> mode, or if the Windows Installer is not correctly installed. Contact your
> support personnel for assistance".
>
> I have Windows XP Home Edition Version 2002, Service Pack 3. It's been
> operating OK for years, now this.
>
> I've had an Office validation issue, but it's now sorted.
>
> Also, on boot up I get a Windows Recovery message: "One of the files
> containing the system's Registry data had to be recovered by use of a log
> or
> alternate copy. The recovery was successful."
>
> Not sure if there's a connection. Any ideas?

ChrisV99 wrote:
> My Windows Installer has stopped functioning - cannot install or uninstall
> programs - I get a dialogue box message: "The Windows Installer Service could
> not be accessed. This can occur if you are running Windows in Safe mode, or
> if the Windows Installer is not correctly installed. Contact your support
> personnel for assistance".
>
> I have Windows XP Home Edition Version 2002, Service Pack 3. It's been
> operating OK for years, now this.
>
> I've had an Office validation issue, but it's now sorted.
>
> Also, on boot up I get a Windows Recovery message: "One of the files
> containing the system's Registry data had to be recovered by use of a log or
> alternate copy. The recovery was successful."
>
> Not sure if there's a connection. Any ideas?


Have you tried repairing or re-installing the Microsoft Installer Service?

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...9-54d056d6f9f4


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

use this command in your RUN box:

msiexec /regserver

Should solve the problem!

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

> What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your
> subscription current? What anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)?
> What third-party firewall (if any)?
>
> Has a(another) Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on the
> computer (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you bought
> it)?
>
> ChrisV99 wrote:
> > My Windows Installer has stopped functioning - cannot install or uninstall
> > programs - I get a dialogue box message: "The Windows Installer Service
> > could not be accessed. This can occur if you are running Windows in Safe
> > mode, or if the Windows Installer is not correctly installed. Contact your
> > support personnel for assistance".
> >
> > I have Windows XP Home Edition Version 2002, Service Pack 3. It's been
> > operating OK for years, now this.
> >
> > I've had an Office validation issue, but it's now sorted.
> >
> > Also, on boot up I get a Windows Recovery message: "One of the files
> > containing the system's Registry data had to be recovered by use of a log
> > or
> > alternate copy. The recovery was successful."
> >
> > Not sure if there's a connection. Any ideas?
>
> .
> I have AVG Free Edition Version 8.5.432 anti-virus, Zone Alarm version 8.0.298.000 firewall, also AdAware (which I can't update that due to the installer problem). Don't think we've ever had Norton on this machine, but may have had McAfee at some point.

Have downloaded Windows Installer 4.5 as Bruce suggested, and the setup
wizard ran OK, but it makes no difference - still can't access Windows
Installer Service.

Tried RUN msiexec /regserver as someone watching suggested, but still no go.

ChrisV99 wrote:
>>> My Windows Installer has stopped functioning - cannot install or
>>> uninstall
>>> programs - I get a dialogue box message: "The Windows Installer Service
>>> could not be accessed. This can occur if you are running Windows in Safe
>>> mode, or if the Windows Installer is not correctly installed. Contact
>>> your
>>> support personnel for assistance".
>>>
>>> I have Windows XP Home Edition Version 2002, Service Pack 3. It's been
>>> operating OK for years, now this.
>>>
>>> I've had an Office validation issue, but it's now sorted.
>>>
>>> Also, on boot up I get a Windows Recovery message: "One of the files
>>> containing the system's Registry data had to be recovered by use of a
>>> log
>>> or
>>> alternate copy. The recovery was successful."
>>>
>>> Not sure if there's a connection. Any ideas?
>>
>> What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your
>> subscription current? What anti-spyware applications (other than
>> Defender)? What third-party firewall (if any)?
>>
>> Has a(another) Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on the
>> computer (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you
>> bought
>> it)?
>>
> I have AVG Free Edition Version 8.5.432 anti-virus, Zone Alarm version
> 8.0.298.000 firewall, also AdAware (which I can't update that due to the
> installer problem). Don't think we've ever had Norton on this machine, but
> may have had McAfee at some point.
>
> Have downloaded Windows Installer 4.5 as Bruce suggested, and the setup
> wizard ran OK, but it makes no difference - still can't access Windows
> Installer Service.
>
> Tried RUN msiexec /regserver as someone watching suggested, but still no
> go.

OK, we'll bottom-post.

Give this a whirl:

1. Download the McAfee Consumer Products Removal Tool, saving it to your
desktop:
http://download.mcafee.com/products/...tches/MCPR.exe

2. Close all open applications (i.e., anything with an icon on the taskbar).

3. Double-click on the file you saved in #1 above to run the utility. Don't
TOUCH your keyboard until the run completes, then reboot & test.

If still no joy, you may be seeing the effects of a hijackware infection.

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

> ChrisV99 wrote:
> >>> My Windows Installer has stopped functioning - cannot install or
> >>> uninstall
> >>> programs - I get a dialogue box message: "The Windows Installer Service
> >>> could not be accessed. This can occur if you are running Windows in Safe
> >>> mode, or if the Windows Installer is not correctly installed. Contact
> >>> your
> >>> support personnel for assistance".
> >>>
> >>> I have Windows XP Home Edition Version 2002, Service Pack 3. It's been
> >>> operating OK for years, now this.
> >>>
> >>> I've had an Office validation issue, but it's now sorted.
> >>>
> >>> Also, on boot up I get a Windows Recovery message: "One of the files
> >>> containing the system's Registry data had to be recovered by use of a
> >>> log
> >>> or
> >>> alternate copy. The recovery was successful."
> >>>
> >>> Not sure if there's a connection. Any ideas?
> >>
> >> What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your
> >> subscription current? What anti-spyware applications (other than
> >> Defender)? What third-party firewall (if any)?
> >>
> >> Has a(another) Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on the
> >> computer (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you
> >> bought
> >> it)?
> >>
> > I have AVG Free Edition Version 8.5.432 anti-virus, Zone Alarm version
> > 8.0.298.000 firewall, also AdAware (which I can't update that due to the
> > installer problem). Don't think we've ever had Norton on this machine, but
> > may have had McAfee at some point.
> >
> > Have downloaded Windows Installer 4.5 as Bruce suggested, and the setup
> > wizard ran OK, but it makes no difference - still can't access Windows
> > Installer Service.
> >
> > Tried RUN msiexec /regserver as someone watching suggested, but still no
> > go.
>
> OK, we'll bottom-post.
>
> Give this a whirl:
>
> 1. Download the McAfee Consumer Products Removal Tool, saving it to your
> desktop:
> http://download.mcafee.com/products/...tches/MCPR.exe
>
> 2. Close all open applications (i.e., anything with an icon on the taskbar).
>
> 3. Double-click on the file you saved in #1 above to run the utility. Don't
> TOUCH your keyboard until the run completes, then reboot & test.
>
> If still no joy, you may be seeing the effects of a hijackware infection.
>
> .
> Ran the McAfee cleaner, still no joy.

"Elmo" wrote:

> ChrisV99 wrote:
> > My Windows Installer has stopped functioning - cannot install or uninstall
> > programs - I get a dialogue box message: "The Windows Installer Service could
> > not be accessed. This can occur if you are running Windows in Safe mode, or
> > if the Windows Installer is not correctly installed. Contact your support
> > personnel for assistance".
> >
> > I have Windows XP Home Edition Version 2002, Service Pack 3. It's been
> > operating OK for years, now this.
> >
> > I've had an Office validation issue, but it's now sorted.
> >
> > Also, on boot up I get a Windows Recovery message: "One of the files
> > containing the system's Registry data had to be recovered by use of a log or
> > alternate copy. The recovery was successful."
> >
> > Not sure if there's a connection. Any ideas?
>
> A few ideas:
>
> - Use System Restore to go back to a restore point dated before this
> issue surfaced. That could mess with your Office validation, I suppose.
>
> - Run Chkdsk.
>
> - Run this:
>
> Malwarebytes© Corporation
> http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam/program/mbam-setup.exe
>
> --
> Joe =o)
> .
Elmo, I ran chkdsk, also downloaded Malwarebytes and ran full scan, but only
came up with a bit of adware - still no go with Installer.
>

ChrisV99 wrote:
>
> "Elmo" wrote:
>
>> ChrisV99 wrote:
>>> My Windows Installer has stopped functioning - cannot install or uninstall
>>> programs - I get a dialogue box message: "The Windows Installer Service could
>>> not be accessed. This can occur if you are running Windows in Safe mode, or
>>> if the Windows Installer is not correctly installed. Contact your support
>>> personnel for assistance".
>>>
>>> I have Windows XP Home Edition Version 2002, Service Pack 3. It's been
>>> operating OK for years, now this.
>>>
>>> I've had an Office validation issue, but it's now sorted.
>>>
>>> Also, on boot up I get a Windows Recovery message: "One of the files
>>> containing the system's Registry data had to be recovered by use of alog or
>>> alternate copy. The recovery was successful."
>>>
>>> Not sure if there's a connection. Any ideas?
>> A few ideas:
>>
>> - Use System Restore to go back to a restore point dated before this
>> issue surfaced. That could mess with your Office validation, I suppose.
>>
>> - Run Chkdsk.
>>
>> - Run this:
>>
>> Malwarebytes© Corporation
>> http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam/program/mbam-setup.exe
>>
>> --
>> Joe =o)
>
> Elmo, I ran chkdsk, also downloaded Malwarebytes and ran full scan, butonly
> came up with a bit of adware - still no go with Installer.

Here's what I would try next, from a Google search. It's similar to
what's been suggested, but includes more steps.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315346

--
Joe =o)